Chloe Stix and Fabian are Flawless in Amateur-Owner Hunters at Lamplight Spring Classic I

Wayne, Ill – May 15, 2022 – Sunday marked the conclusion of the first week of competition at Lamplight Spring Classic I, where championship honors were awarded in the hunter and jumper rings. Chloe Stix had a standout day in the Amateur-Owner Hunters aboard her veteran partner Fabian, capturing the division's championship title and then going on to win the $1,000 Junior/Amateur-Owner Hunter Classic.

“Fabian is 11 years old, and I’ve had him since he was 6,” explained Stix. “He was my second junior hunter, and he’s really just very special to me. I don’t think he’s ever going to go anywhere – he’s in my family forever. He’s given me everything and anything I could have ever hoped for – every goal I ever had he helped me accomplish, so I am just very grateful to have him.”

 Chloe Stix and Fabian. Photo by: Alison Hartwell

Stix and Fabian had a dominating performance in the Amateur-Owner Hunter division, winning three over fences classes as well as the under saddle to earn the championship tricolor. The reserve championship went to Jenney Aselage and Loon Lake, who earned a first, two seconds, and two third-place ribbons.

 Jenney Aselage and Loon Lake. Photo by: Alison Hartwell

The final event of the day for the Junior and Amateur-Owner riders was the $1,000 Junior/Amateur-Owner Hunter Classic. Stix and Fabian once again laid down a flawless round, earning a second-round score of 84 for a combined score of 170 to capture the winning prize. Maggie Lawrence and Cavito 2 placed second with a score of 169, while Caroline Swanson and Grandstand’s score of 166.5 rounded out the top three.

Stix enjoyed showcasing her mount’s beautiful jump over the second-round course, which began with three single fences. “I think it was really interesting that it started with three singles, which you don’t see as much,” she commented. “I tried to leave a little bit of a hunter gap to each of the singles to help my horse jump the best he could. The singles give you a lot of time to get the right pace you need, and we didn’t have a line early in the course, so we could make the singles look impressive without having to get down the lines properly.”

The Lamplight Spring Classic is Stix’s last show before she competes at the Devon Horse Show and Country Fair, and she was thrilled to end on such a high note. “I was just hoping to have a good experience and ride as well as I could,” she noted. “I think the showgrounds are so beautiful – the landscaping and the rings are always so well taken care of. The atmosphere is very nice, and everyone is very friendly. It’s run very well, and it’s not too far from home.”

Hunter action at Lamplight Equestrian Center will continue over the next two weeks of the Spring Classic Series as part of the full HITS Chicago Series, which runs through September at the world-class facility. The Lamplight Spring Classic will feature two more $2,500 USHJA National Hunter Derbies, as well as the $1,000 USHJA Green Hunter Incentive classes, the $750 USHJA Green Challenge, and the Lamplight 2’6” Hunter Derby each week.